AKVIS today announced SmartMask 4.0, its latest selection tool designed to make image area selection simple. With a few mouse clicks SmartMask v.4.0 helps select fluff, hair, fur, tree branches, glass, or a transparent veil as well as remove unwanted colour shades left on the cutout object by the environment. Now the software is accessible in two editions: as a standalone program and as a plugin to photo editors. The new version also adds compatibility with Adobe Photoshop CS6. SmartMask 4.0 is available for purchase with a Home license for 2 computers ($90), Home Deluxe license ($120) and Business license ($160).

AKVIS Press Release

AKVIS announces SmartMask v.4.0, Powerful and Simple Selection Tool

July 6, 2011— AKVIS announced SmartMask v.4.0, its latest and most efficient selection tool designed to make image area selection fun and simple. SmartMask v.4.0 helps transform a time-consuming and often a painful task of selecting a specific area of an image, like selecting yourself in a group photo, into a simple and fun process. With SmartMask v.4.0 creating photo collages and photo montages with numerous objects that don’t have clearly defined edges and fade into a background becomes entertaining and creative activity.

AKVIS SmartMask v.4.0 makes a complicated image area selection incredibly simple. It includes powerful tools for masking objects on images and removing backgrounds as well as for selecting various types of objects, both with soft and sharp edges. With a few mouse clicks SmartMask v.4.0 helps select fluff, hair, fur, tree branches, glass, or a transparent veil as well as remove unwanted color shades left on the cutout object by the environment.

AKVIS SmartMask v.4.0 introduces two modes of image processing that intelligently help you make the selection you want. Auto mode offers a powerful algorithm for automatic recognition of areas while Manual mode includes a set of smart and helpful brushes to touch up the results where needed.

For simple images pencil tools in Auto mode help achieve professionally looking results. With a blue pencil you draw a line inside the object you want to select (for example, yourself on a group photo), and then use the red pencil to create lines outside the object to define the areas that should be cut out (for instance, other people on the same photo). The new Quick Selection tool is a powerful feature which allows our program to select regions with just a few clicks. In cases where the selected object stands against a background of a similar color range, or the object’s edges are uneven, Manual mode offers powerful touch-up brushes like the Magic Brush and Background Eraser.

AKVIS SmartMask v.4.0 helps considerably increase your productivity to leave more time for creativity and the realization of your ideas as a designer. Moreover, SmartMask v.4.0 allows saving a working draft of your project into an AKVIS file that contains an original image, an image at the moment it was saved with all its parameters and settings as well as any manually created checkpoints that were added during your work. This is a very helpful feature that is highly appreciated by image processing professionals.

Now the software is accessible in two editions: as a standalone program and as a plugin to photo editors. The new version adds compatibility with Adobe Photoshop CS6.

Pricing and Availability
SmartMask v.4.0 is available for purchase with Home license for 2 computers (90 USD), Home Deluxe license (120 USD) and Business license (160 USD). SmartMask v.4.0 can be purchased on AKVIS website. Fully functional 10-day trial version is available for download at akvis.com.

About AKVIS
AKVIS is a team of creative IT professionals developing the most comprehensive and user-friendly image processing and photo restoration tools and solutions. For more information visit akvis.com.